mogowan



July Y13 1926. 1,592,215

I E. M. McGowAN PREPAYMENT METER Filedep. 8, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 zz, I6 /7 a3 fm1/ENZ' 'Y i i? Armi/v5? July 13 1926. 1,592,215

E. M. M'CGOWAN PREPAYMENT METER Filed Sept 8, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented July 13, 1925.

unire sare s patear erica.

EDWARD! M. MCGO'WAN, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, `ASSGNOR TO THE NATONAL POSTAGEMACHNE CO., OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. l

PREPAYMENT ivrnfrnn.

Applicatonled September 8, 1522. Serial No. 587,003.

This invention relates to predetermined operation meters of themarkingtype.

Thisinvention has utility in prepayment postage. marking meters.

:il Referring to the drawings Fig.. 1 is a perspective View, showing anembodimentl of the invention as a prepayment postagemarking meter forletters;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device of Fig. 1, with the lid openand parts broken away;l

Fig. 3 is a: plan view of the device ot Fig. 2. with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the one way drive or clutch connectionbetween the main drive shaft and the setting device;

Fig; 57is a fragmentary perspective view showing the withdrawal ot theinker and partial withdrawal of the marker;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the actuating end of the device, partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view ot the marker mounting Fig. 8 is a1 detailview, in 'perspective` showingthe mannerv ofremoval of the date portionof the marker;

l Fig. 9 is an end elevation, with parts broken away, of the inking endof the inachine, that is;.the remote end of the machine 1 from theshowing in Fig. 6;-

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view, with part-s tending downwardly to therebyanchor this npstanding housing portion 1 to a base 4l.

shown ashaving connected` therewith. ma-

chine screws 5 for anchoring therewith al main traine base 6 upstandingto carry bear-v ings 7, 8, for main drive or rock shaft 9 having one endprotruding trom the housing 1, which protruding end is of key form 10 tocarry an arm 11. This arm or crank 11 isV shown' as having a handle 12connected by screw 13 to the arm 11 for serving as an inside this mainhousing 1, the base 4c isactuator or theV main drive or rock shaft.v

inside this main housing 1 there is shown as iixedly mounted on thismain drive or rock shaft 9, collar portion 111 (Figs. 3, 6) carrying a`ratchet portion 15. Fast with his shaft 9 andcollar 14 is-radiallyextend ing arm 16 having a roller 17 which in the rocking of the arm 11,may come against pawl tail portion 18 to unseat out of the ratchet 15,portion 19 of the pawl7 fulcrumed on pin 20. Loosely mounted on thismain or rock shaftf 9 adjacentA the ratchet 15, is collar 21 having aradially extending arm 22 providing a bearing tor iulcrum 20. Thisradially extending arm 22 extends outward to block 23 and is anchoredagainst rotation from the shaft 9 byv arm 211 extending down forengagement with the main base 6. The pawl 18, 19, adjacent this fulcrum20 has toothed portion 25 to be engaged by wedge shaped plunger 26 asslidable in the block or guide 23 and normally thrust outward by spring27 to hold the pawl 18, 19, in thrown position asdirected by the roller17. The handle 12 accordingly must be pulled forward and downward andwill not recover as long` as the pawl portion 18 rides against theratchet 15.

Radially extending and fast to this shaft 9 is an additional arm 28 towhich is connected tension helical spring 29 extending to anchor 30 withtheV base 1. Accordingly this spring 29 in each pull down of theactuator arm 11 places this spring 29 under tension so that as the pawl19 is releasedy from the ratchet 15 and the handle 11 is allowed torecover freely, such handler' has its recover effected by this spring29. There must bejfirst a release of this arm 11 to permit it to moveupward. Arm 31 rigid with the shaft 9 carries a roller 82 engagingportion 19 ot' the pawl18, 19, on the latter portion ot' the downwardpull of the handle 12, to throw this portio-n 19 into engagement withthe ratchet 15, to preclude partial recover and then again down stroke.-Accordingly the handle may have only full recover stroke and this isautomatically effected' by the spring 29. As the recover stroke iscompleted, the portion 18 of the pawl is rocked into the ratchet 15 toagain be yieldably heldby the plunger 25. There is accordingly providedin this simple device a full stroke in either direction for the arm 11operating this rock shaft 9. This full stroke device is` accordinglyelected inA that the pull of the handle 12 forward operates the arm 11and shaft 9 to such an ei;- tent that the arm 3l fixed on the shaft 9,not only moves up on the pawl 19 to throw such into the ratchet 15, hutin so doing swings the collar 111e such distance around that the pawl 19is clear of th ratchet 15, and is held in such position by plungerengaging the toothed portion of this pawl. Upon the release of thehandle l2, the spring Q9 is thus free to rock the arin 11, shaft 9 andcollar 1l with ratchet 15 in the recover direct-ion to such extent thatarm 16 fast with the shaft 9 brings roller 1T against pawl portion 18 toswing the pawl portion 1S against the ratchet 15 and thus hold the shaft9 against further recover stroke direction travel. rflic device is nowin position for a repetition ot the pull stroke operation. Escapeinentfor this direction of travel is permitted as to the ratchet 15 pullingfrom under the pawl portion 1S. is the roller 17 leaves this pawlportion 1S, and thereafter, the roller 32 on the arni 3l manIv againcome into play for rocking the pawl 19 into the ratchet 15 as the pawlportion 18 is thrown clear thereof.

The end of the shaft 9 remote from the handle 11 and held b v thehousing 1 is shown as carrying an are face cranl; 3 (Figs. 3, 9) havingon the lower portion thereof, a machine screw 3l anchoring an upwardlyextending metal strap 35 connected by a screw 36 to flat. side 23T ofplunger 3S upwardlrv and downwardly reciprocahle in a guide 39 liiiedl)vcarried by split collar Ll() adjusted by clamp screw l1. This collar l0is integral with the main frame G and is carried adjacent the hearing 8and therehelow. This plunger 3S has its lower portion carr v rigidlytherewith a head s2 from which downwardlj.rv extend springs lf3 asguided by screws #lst to connect therewith a lower or main head havinginwardly extending tongues 16 on the sides thereof to coact with guidesor ways el? in the marking member proper lS which, on its lower side,has an einhossed section i9. lYithin the areaof this embossed section4:9 there is independentlyv removal-ole sections which seat in anopening 51, there to he anchored h v staple In marking a piece of mail,as envelope 5?), the main einhossed portion t9 may he the standardimprint portion 5st on the envelope 53 for station, permit nuinher, andmeter number, while the removable sections 50 mayv print the date asoutlined hv section lines within the portion printing the station ortown.

lThe clamp collar /lO carries diainetricallj,v of the plunger 3S,trunnion extensions ."it having on the outer ends thereof forwardlyyextending arin or link portions 57 Carr fing downwardlyv directedcylinders 5S carrying bra liets 59 having links GO connected tocylinders 61 provided with pistons G2 extending one to each end of aroller {if} noi'- niallj,rheld h v these extensihle sections inengagement with inliing pad or inker G4 mounted with a guide Si, carriedhy niarking head In the down travel of the plunger 3S, these sets ofextension links cause this inliing roller (S3 to roll down over theinker Gl; and the guide 65, across the embossed or inariiing sections49, .70, to conie into seating relation with spring arias stops GG, Gi',carried hv the main head e5. Engagement with slot 68 of the inher (SJ.-inav he had hy waj,Y of opening G9 (Figs. 1, in the housing 1 forwithdrawing the inl; pad or inher for reinliing. This upwardl)v inclinedopening (39 is connected to horizontal opening T0 which latter' permitswithdiawing the printing head `15% as limited pin 'TO' slidahle in slotTO (Fig. T).

The main housing 1 ahove the openings 39, Tt), tor access to theprinting lilock, carries a pivot pin 7l for a plate or closure T2 havinga handle TS which ma)I he readily operated to swing this plate T2 inclosing the slot 69, Tt).

Below this slot 70, there is normally protruding a small handle Tl.which may he engaged for withdrawing from opening of the main housing 1,a seat or mail matter `guide 7G having along the haelt or rear .sidethereof upstanding portion TT coacting in outward travel from the mainhousing 1 with guide T8, while the opposing portion of this seat. 7G isheld by overhang 79. Accordingly, in thrusting an envelope or inail matter through opening SO continuous with the slot 75 but. on the adjacentside of the housing 1 therefrom, this holding wa)v T9. in its actionwith the guide T6 as to the wa)v TS. is not in place for interferencThis guide 7G adjacent the upstanding portion TT is shown as providedwith a groove 91. which will preclude matter entering or interferingwith the full placing ot' the envelope in the seat for marking.

This mail matter guide or seat TG is shown as having on the under sidethereof. a pair of countersunh portions S2, S3f (Fig. 2) which may heengaged h pin Sl as actuated hy spring S5 as held in anchored position hv screws 86 in plate 4. These countersunl; portions 82, S3, arepositioned for holding the seat 76 in its limit positions outward andinward of the main housing 1.

A device for aigitoinatic (liscliargn of the mail matter after markingis pr-rividcd here in. Integral with the niain traine (i and ei:-tending outward from the hearing S is a bracket portion 87 (Figs. f3, 9)carrying a pivot pin 88 for an arm S9 having at its free end a fulcrumpin 90 for a pawl or dog 91., normally7 held in aligned position withthe arm 89 by means of spring 92 holding an after end 93 of this pawl 91in engagement llV upward.

otthevarm 89, 91 isa flexible-'connection wardly, the roller 95 strikestheV pawlV 91l and rocks the pawl'against the'. resistance ot theyspring 92: and goes therebelow. Upon the release ot the crank 11 such isautomatically recovered by the action otfspring.4 29 and in this upstroke, therollerV 95k bumps against the underV side of the. pawlv 91and pulls' this pawl together with the arm. 89 Connected'to thisulcrumpin 90 or cord 97 about guide-rollers 98', 9.9, (Fig. 10) mountedon the.` base 4 to connect with lever 100v as mountedY byr fulcrum pin101 uponV the base 4. This pulling of the-lever 101 is against theresistance' of'spring 102. This'lever. 100 'isconnected to slide plate103 in guide 104 in .thebase' 4. Upstanding from thisreciprocablememberv 103 as actuated by the;lever 100, isa finger or stop105 (Fig. 2)

whichin the idleY or recover action of the handle;11, 12, moves in cutout portion 106 ofthe. guide 7 6 andthereby in a quick movementdischarges or ejects the stamped matter l from the housing l1.-

A down counter is provided for limiting the number of actuations ott-heactuator 11 by pre-selecting said number and thus. operating therefromto zero.l To this end therey is mounted on the operating shaft 9, bymeans ofla one way clutch-device, a'collar 107 to @give an intermittentYor step byv step forward motionin counter clockwise direction to actuatethe gear 108 tast with said collar 107 as the handle 12 is oscillated.This gear 108 is in. mesh with gear' 109 having fast therewithv a onetoothed gear 110. Fixed with this gear 109 and the singlev toothed gear110, isa unit coun-ter I. or indicator 111. carried by support 112parallel to the shaft. 9. This support 112 is mounted in bearings'113,114, extending; forwardly from the bearings 7 and8 Aof the base 6. Thesingle toothed gear is in mesh with ten tooth star wheel 115 adjacentthegear 108 but relatively independent therefrom.` This star wheel-115 isrigid with sleeve 116 and asecond gearf108'. This-sec ond gear 108 is inmesh with ak second gear wheel 109 parallely to the irst gear 109. Thissecond gear 109 has a second single toothed gear 110 tiXed therewith aswell as a tens indicator 117 -parallelwith the indicatorV 111. Insimilar manner, consecutively provided between the support 112 and theactuator shaft 9 isV successive ten to one speedreduction for hundredsindicatorr118 andv thousands indicator 119.A Spaced between the units,tens, hundreds, thousands indicators, together withwtheir/gears109 arecollars 120'ast on the support 112. Each ot these collars 120has a slotyor recess 121x which as grouped are aligned for the respective collars.1n each ot these slots or recesses 121 are disposed rollers 122 anchoredwith bar V123 guided by the support 112 which has a slot 124 therein.This bar 123 has downwardly projecting arm 125 to which may be connecteda helical spring 126, the opposite end oi whichspring 126 is connectedto downwardly extending arm 127 (F ig. 2) tast with collar 120 closestto the bearing or bracket 113. Accordingly, this spring 126 is eiectivenormally to urge the bar 123 away from the brackety 113 and to orthrough the bracket 114 to have the projecting end of this bar 123 passthrough a guide way 128 in the plunger guide 39 to engage recess 129 inthe plunger 38 to lock theplunger 38 against reciprocation.

This movement of the bar 23 to eiiect locking of the plunger can onlyoccur when the Zero positions ot the indicators of' the down counter areall in alignment to receive the respectiverollers 122 in recesses 130(Fig. 12) of the respective counters 111, 117, 113, 119. There isaccordingly eected by this bar 123 a simultaneous locking of each of thefour or as many counters as may be provided.

In setting this prepayment meter it is only necessary to withdraw thislocking bar 123 which is accomplished by pulling to the right upwardlyextending arm 131 to overcome the actionot the spring 126 and therebywithdraw the end'of this lock. bar from the plunger 38 as well as fromythe respective recesses 130 ot the counters. This handle 131 is held inthis withdrawn position while the knurled roller or collar 107 isshifted one position to thus eftect a resetting ot the down counter to9999 and the device is then in position for reop'eration through theentire stage of the count for this amount say at two cents for eachcount, if the machine is to be used for two cent stamped prepayment ofUnited States postage.

TWith the down counting meter thus set, it is only necessary to closethe housing. To this end, there is provided screws 132 for brackets 133carrying hinge pin 134 therebetween to mount with the brackets 133Veyelets 135 of the closure 136 as a cover for the main housing 1 tohave a flange 137 (Fig' 2) on this cover 136 enter the opening- 138 ofthe housing 1 to provide a tight tit against prying loose of thisclosure 136 of the housing 1. This closure 136 is shownv ashaving latchreceiving seat 139 tor lock- 140 which lock 140 may have bolt throw bymeans of a key 141 Fig. 2. As supplemental holding or sealing means forthisv device, there may be provided a link 142 swingable vfrom below thelock 1405130 cover w .www

the key hole and come into position against eye 143 of the closure 136,there to be engaged by seal 144 which may be placed thereon by thepostmaster or the postal ofcial when the counter reset and prepaymentfor the postage is made.

The housing as thus locked and closed may be easily transported fromplace to place by carrying handle 145.

In addition to the down counter or prepayment meter, there is provided asummation or totaling counter. Rigid with the arm 28 as actuated fromthe main shatt 9 is a supplemental arm 146 having link 147 er:- tendingto meter 148 of cyclometcr I/Ieeder type, disposed rigidly in thehousing 1 tor viewing through window 149. This upcounter operates upwardtrom zero.

A check ot the condition oi the down counting meter is always availablethrough window ot the closure 136. This closure 136 brings the window15() into such close position that even were the glass to be brokenthere would not be access for in any wise tampering with the counters orthe lock features ot the structure, l` he zero points as viewed throughthe windowsl 1:50 are angularly disposed downwardly from the seatportion as brought into alignment with lock bar 123.

In the base 1 there is provided a drawer 151 which may house additionaldate type to replace the type sections in opening 51. with the changesof time and date.

This housing as closed is one that may not be open to attack tor theassembly screws are all interior of the housing 1 and base 4. Tamperingwith the ejector does not etlect the down counter. I-Iowever, by meansof screws 152 and cushioned leg screws 153, housing plate 154 mayconceal the mechanism below the base 4.

IVhat is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:a

1. In a marking device, a housing therefor provided with an opening forthe introduction of matter to be marked, a device actuator to effectoperation ot' the device for marking the matter, a counter in thehousing operable by the actuator, a. lock for the device controlled bythe counter, said housing being provided with a closure unit forrendering the device, counter and lock inaccessible for tampering, saidunit in open position permitting disconnection of the lock trom themarking device and counter, a housing closure lock, a key for the lock,and a seal mountable to shield the lock against key operation of thelock.

9.. In a marking device, al housing therefor, an acutator for thedevice, lull stroke mechanism for the actuator embodying a one wayrotating shaft, a ratchet carried by said shaft, a holding pa-wl, andarms movable with the actuator to shift the pawl.

3. In a marking device, a marker carried by the device embodyingsections, a housing therefor, a lock for the housing, said housing beingprovided with an opening through which access may be gained to themarker independently of the lock and means giving access to the markersections.

In a marking device, a marker carried by the device embodying sections,a housing :tor the marker and sections, a lock for the housing, saidhousing being provided with an opening so access may be gained to themarker sections, aguide for the partial removal of the marker sectionsto permit changing ot the marker sections, and means tor holding themarker sections assembled.

5. In a marking device including an inker, a housing for the device andinker,` a counter in the housing, a lock affected by the counter forcontrolling a determined number ot' operations for the device, a lockfor the housing` and means permitting access to the inker independentlyot disturbing the housing lock and the counter.

(i. In a marking device including a plunger, a housing therefor. a lockl'or the housing` an actuator vt'or the plunger, a counter, and a lockoperated by a determined position oit the counter directly to engage theplunger.

7. In a marking device including a plunger, a rock shaft, an arc crankcarried by the shaft, a strap between the are crank and plunger forstraight line pull on the plunger, and a full stroke actuator for therock shaft.

8. In a marking device for independent pieces of matter, a housingtherefor, a reciprocating actuator on one stroke effective tor operatingthe device to mark pieces of said matter, and a matter carrying ejectorconnected to directly engage said marked matter independently of asucceeding pieceot matter, said ejector being connected to be operatedby the actuator on its return stroke.

9. A marking device embodying a housing provided with an opening :tormatter to be marked, a seat, and ways permitting partial withdrawing olthe seat from the housing to permit said seat to serve as a guide forthe matter to be marked.

10. In a marking device embodying up and down counters, an actuator,connections therefrom for operating said counters, said device embodyinga plunger, a rock shaft connected to the plunger, and a guide parallelto the rock shaft for mounting the down counter.

11. In a marking device embodying up and down counters, an actuator forthe device, connections from the actuator' tor operating the counters,said device embodying a plunger', a rock shaft connected to the plunger,a guide parallel to the rock shaft for mounting the down counter, and alock for the plunger carried by the guide.

12. In a marking device embodying up and down counters, an actuator forthe device, connections from the actuator for operating the counters,said device embodying a plunger, a rock shaft connected to the plunger7a guide parallel to the rock shaft for mounting the down counter, and a.lock for the down counter carried by the guide.

13. In a marking device embodying up and down counters, an actuator forthe device, connections from the actuator for operating the counters,said device embodying a plunger, a rock shaft connected to the plunger,a guide to intercept the plunger', said guide being parallel to the rockshaft for mounting the down counter, and a down counter and plungerlocking bar carried by the guide.

14C. In a marking device including a multi-tumbler down counter, a guidesupport for the down counter tumblers, said tumblers having zero seatsto bevbrought into alignment, a bar carried by the guide,

the bar to enter said zero seats for locking the counter with thesupport and said plunger.

16. A housing and therein a marking device, a dovvn counting meterrestricting total operation of the device, an up counter for disclosingthe extent of the use of the meter, and a reset for the meterindependent of the device operation, said housing in Closed positionrendering said marking device, counter devices, meter and `resetinaccessible.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD M. MGGOVAN.

